tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254272216866737058.post1056420714146371276..comments2015-03-21T14:07:41.958-06:00Comments on Καθολικός διάκονος: Theology is excitingDeacon Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01385969740195992108noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254272216866737058.post-9267656414116660442007-06-15T14:21:00.000-06:002007-06-15T14:21:00.000-06:00Good observations all, Fred. Once in awhile I expe...Good observations all, Fred. Once in awhile I experience something close to what Malloy describes, on the very rare occasion that it does happen it is usually in the context of liturgy, when everything fuses together for a bright, shining moment or two and usually a musical part, like a Gloria, or a Sanctus. I can hear my parish chanting now, even as I type, <i>“Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominius Deus sabaoth, pleni sunt caeli et terra, gloria tua.”</i> I like thinking about how God works in the world and my experience plays at least as much a part as words, thoughts, theories, poems, music, novels, films, etc. Of course, all of these are of my experience. So, they are not really separate from it or from me, as their meanings are filtered through who I am.<br><br>I found Malloy&#39;s description of justification and grace breath-taking and so very sacramental. I love the sacraments because they are so tangible, sensuous, and what they point to, even though the glimpse we get, if we get one at all, is dim. If we were given privileged access to how it is God works in the world, in our lives, our descriptions would be laughable, but it suffices for me for now. I like to think of God working in me, changing me from the inside out, as painful as this dying often is. <br><br>The very fact that we need to be justified and that Christ justifies, frees me from the need to rationalize. Does that mean that I never rationalize? Hell no! It only means that I reject the freedom not have to do so. If I were to die right now I would not even try to rationalize myself to God, it would be futile. I plan to throw myself on the mercy of the court.Dcn Scott Dodgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09994604395739905637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254272216866737058.post-39468779444996886262007-06-15T13:18:00.000-06:002007-06-15T13:18:00.000-06:00Scott,Interestingly enough, lately it&#39;s occurr...Scott,<br><br>Interestingly enough, lately it&#39;s occurred to me that justification is the most boring topic imaginable - at least as most people think of it (regardless of their ecclesial affiliation). It&#39;s like life insurance, but even less tangible. <br><br>To be flippant, I wonder if what we often use the word justification to mean rationalization. E.g. if you were to die right now, what would you say to rationalize yourself to God - and therefore we point to Jesus as if he is the excuse we have for our failure, the consolation prize for a ruined life.<br><br>If I were to die right now, my response would be &quot;great! now I don&#39;t have to worry about what to do with the next ten minutes of my life.&quot; The question is whether a salvation exists for me now, something that redeems my life from waste.<br><br>So, yes, that&#39;s the exciting part that you highlighted, but who experiences this now?Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01262662173303042998noreply@blogger.com